Harry Potter star Emma Watson shares private snaps

Emma Watson, the Harry Potter actress, posted a photo of herself at Oxford
University, just days after her lawyers demanded that the press do not take
photographs of her.

Emma Watson is currently studying at Oxford University. Photo: emmawatson.com

Tim Walker. Edited by Richard Eden

7:28AM BST 21 Oct 2011

As Lord Leveson begins his thorough examination of the workings of the press, shouldn’t a judicial inquiry be launched into the wiles of “celebrities”?

For example, expensive lawyers representing Emma Watson, the Harry Potter star, recently sent a stern letter to newspapers, warning them not to write about her studies at Oxford University or attempt to take any photographs of the actress.

This week, however, Watson posted a picture of herself, at Oxford on her personal website and encouraged fans to find it through social-networking websites. “Hope you all like My Week with Marilyn,” she said of her new films. “I’ll keep you posted on Perks.”

Foxed by gay issue

Dr Liam Fox could be forgiven for wishing that Col Muammar Gaddafi had been killed a week earlier. Also, would his chances of survival as defence secretary have been improved if he had, actually, been involved in a homosexual relationship with Adam Werritty?

“If they had been secret lovers and Mr Fox had declared this, it might have helped scotch insinuations that their closeness was motivated by Mr Werrity’s bid for financial gain,” remarks Peter Tatchell, the campaigner for homosexual rights. “Such a disclosure would have silenced critics who have been trying to suggest financial impropriety.”

He adds: “This is one instance where coming out could have benefited a scandal-ridden Tory minister.”

Wrong answer for Ann Robinson

Anne Robinson is relieved that the BBC moved The Weakest Link to Glasgow rather than to its new headquarters in Salford.

“I’m a Liverpudlian, so there is no way you’d get me relocating to Manchester,” the presenter tells Mandrake at a party in the City of London. “Glasgow is fine, but Manchester’s out of the question.”

Robinson, who turned 67 last month, is keen to make the point that not all women d’un certain âge are victims of ageism. “I’ve never had any problems getting work,” she boasts. “I’ve got Watchdog, The Weakest Link to finish, My Life in Books, and there’s the possibility of another show. I know that will annoy Selina Scott, but I just don’t think age is a factor.”

Cheering the MPs

MPs found time to attend the launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for American Football, which just happened to be attended by the cheerleaders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

One of them, Britney Craine, 29, says: “We visited the House of Commons and we were asked if we’d go out on a date with them. But it was funny because we had some photos with them and a few of the MPs kept saying: “Okay, we have to keep our hands in a clenched fist because we don’t want to be seen to be touching you.”